Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. Sells 227,760 Shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. lessened its position in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) by 10.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,971,794 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 227,760 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V.’s holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $128,167,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. National Pension Service increased its stake in Synchrony Financial by 22.7% in the third quarter. National Pension Service now owns 957,758 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $47,773,000 after purchasing an additional 177,051 shares in the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI increased its stake in Synchrony Financial by 119.0% in the third quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 243,040 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $12,123,000 after purchasing an additional 132,047 shares in the last quarter. Brophy Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Synchrony Financial in the third quarter valued at approximately $544,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in Synchrony Financial by 2.2% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 487,720 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $24,327,000 after purchasing an additional 10,294 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Unigestion Holding SA bought a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial during the third quarter worth $985,000. Institutional investors own 96.48% of the company’s stock.

Synchrony Financial Stock Performance

NYSE SYF opened at $66.68 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $66.93 and a 200-day moving average of $57.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a current ratio of 1.25. The stock has a market cap of $25.96 billion, a PE ratio of 8.70, a P/E/G ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 1.64. Synchrony Financial has a 52-week low of $37.91 and a 52-week high of $70.93.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The financial services provider reported $1.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.89 by $0.02. Synchrony Financial had a net margin of 13.98% and a return on equity of 16.64%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Synchrony Financial will post 6.54 EPS for the current year.

Synchrony Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.50%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 3rd. Synchrony Financial’s dividend payout ratio is presently 13.05%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Jonathan S. Mothner sold 34,163 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.99, for a total transaction of $2,220,253.37. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 127,587 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,291,879.13. This trade represents a 21.12 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Curtis Howse sold 21,934 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.13, for a total transaction of $1,209,221.42. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 99,743 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,498,831.59. This represents a 18.03 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.33% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Synchrony Financial from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $59.00 to $72.00 in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Compass Point downgraded shares of Synchrony Financial from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $70.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Tuesday. Truist Financial started coverage on shares of Synchrony Financial in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. They set a “hold” rating and a $72.00 price objective for the company. Robert W. Baird set a $62.00 target price on shares of Synchrony Financial in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised shares of Synchrony Financial from an “underweight” rating to an “overweight” rating and raised their target price for the company from $40.00 to $82.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $68.50.

Synchrony Financial Profile

Synchrony Financial, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a consumer financial services company in the United States. It provides credit products, such as credit cards, commercial credit products, and consumer installment loans. The company also offers private label credit cards, dual co-brand and general purpose credit cards, short- and long-term installment loans, and consumer banking products; and deposit products, including certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts, money market accounts, and savings accounts, and sweep and affinity deposits, as well as accepts deposits through third-party securities brokerage firms.